Method, alert control device, street light, computer program and computer program product for alerting traffic

• US 10,109,188 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Dauneria, Ankur
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US14/906,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20160163194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle

Abstract

It is provided a method for alerting traffic. The method is performed in an alert control device connected to a street light and comprises the steps of: detecting the presence of a radio frequency identification device using a radio frequency identification reader; and controlling the street light to go from a normal state to an alert state, wherein the lighting of the street light in the alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the normal state. Alert control devices, a street light, a computer program and a computer program are also presented.

Claims

1. A method for alerting traffic, the method being performed in an alert control device connected to a street light, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal transmitted by a first device within the possession of a first individual within a proximity of the street light, wherein the first individual is one of a pedestrian and a cyclist, the first signal being received via a near field communication (NFC) technology;

after receiving the first signal, determining that the first individual intends to cross a street within the proximity of the street light; and

as a result of determining that the first individual intends to cross the street, controlling the street light to go from a normal state to a first alert state, wherein the lighting of the street light in the first alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the normal state in order to alert passing vehicles that the first individual may be crossing the street within the proximity of the street light;

receiving a second signal transmitted by a second device within the possession of a second individual;

determining that a NFC signal from the second device has not been received; and

based on the receipt of the second signal and the determination that the NFC signal from the second device has not been received, determining that the second individual is within the proximity of the street light but does not intend to cross the street.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first alert state involves an altered color compared to the normal state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first alert state involves an altered light intensity compared to the normal state.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting an absence of any radio frequency identification devices using the alert control device; and

controlling the street light to go from the first alert state to the normal state.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of detecting an absence of any radio frequency identification devices comprises detecting an absence of any radio frequency identification devices during a configurable time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert control device is connected to two street lights on either side of a road and wherein the step of controlling the street light controls both street lights the same way.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first signal and the second signal is received via a battery powered radio frequency identification device which is activated by a user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing log data regarding when the step of controlling the street light to go from a normal state to the first alert state has occurred.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal is detectable over a maximum range of approximately 10 centimeters.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

as a result of determining that the second individual is within the proximity of the street light but does not intend to cross the street, controlling the street light to enter a second alert state, wherein the lighting of the street light in the second alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the first alert state.

11. An alert control device for alerting traffic, the alert control device being arranged to be connected to a street light, the alert control device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first signal transmitted by a first device within the possession of a first individual within a proximity of the street light, wherein the first individual is one of a pedestrian and a cyclist, the first signal being received via a near field communication (NFC) technology;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the alert control device to;

determine that the first individual intends to cross a street within the proximity of the street light, said determining being based on the first signal received from the first device within the possession of the first individual;

as a result of determining that the first individual intends to cross the street, control the street light to go from a normal state to a first alert state, wherein the lighting of the street light in the first alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the normal state in order to alert passing vehicles that the first individual may be crossing the street within the proximity of the street light;

receive a second signal transmitted by a second device within the possession of a second individual;

determine that a NFC signal from the second device has not been received; and

based on the receipt of the second signal and the determination that the NFC signal from the second device has not been received, determine that the second individual is within the proximity of the street light but does not intend to cross the street.

12. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the first alert state involves an altered color compared to the normal state.

13. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the first alert state involves an altered light intensity compared to the normal state.

14. The alert control device of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to:

detect an absence of any radio frequency identification devices using the receiver; and

control the street light to go from the alert state to the normal state.

15. The alert control device of claim 14, wherein the instructions to detect an absence of any radio frequency identification devices comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to detect an absence of any radio frequency identification devices during a configurable time period.

16. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the alert control device is connected to two street lights on either side of a road and the alert control device is arranged to control both street lights the same way.

17. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first signal and the second signal is received via a battery powered radio frequency identification device which is activated by a user.

18. The alert control device of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to:

store log data regarding when the street light is controlled to go from a normal state to the first alert state has occurred.

19. A street light comprising the alert control device of claim 11.

21. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the first signal is detectable over a maximum range of approximately 10 centimeters.

22. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the alert control device is further configured to control the street light to enter a second alert state in response to determining that the second individual is within the proximity of the street light but does not intend to cross the street, wherein the lighting of the street light in the second alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the first alert state.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which a computer program comprising computer program code is stored, the computer program code comprising instructions which, when run on an alert control device connected to a street light, cause the alert control device to:

determine that a first individual intends to cross a street within the proximity of the street light, said determining being based on a first signal received from a device within the possession of the first individual, the first signal being received via a near field communication (NFC) technology;

as a result of determining that the first individual intends to cross the street, control the street light to go from a normal state to a first alert state, wherein the lighting of the street light in the first alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the normal state in order to alert passing vehicles that the first individual may be crossing the street within the proximity of the street light;

receive a second signal transmitted by a second device within the possession of a second individual;

determine that a NFC signal from the second device has not been received; and

based on the receipt of the second signal and the determination that the NFC signal from the second device has not been received, determine that the second individual is within the proximity of the street light but does not intend to cross the street.

23. A method for alerting traffic, the method being performed in an alert control device connected to a street light, the street light having a normal state, a first alert state configured to alert passing vehicles that persons may be crossing the street within a proximity of the street light, the first alert state being further configured to be triggered based on the alert control device receiving one or more near field communication (NFC) signals, and a second alert state, the second alert state differing from the normal state and the first alert state, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal transmitted by a device within the possession of an individual within a proximity of the street light;

determining that an NFC signal from the device has not been received; and

based on the receipt of the first signal and the determination that the NFC signal from the device has not been received, determining that the individual is within the proximity of the street light but does not intend to cross the street;

as a result of determining that the individual is within the proximity of the street light but does not intend to cross the street, controlling the street light to enter the second alert state, the second alert state being configured to alert passing vehicles that the individual is within the proximity of the street light but does not intend to cross the street.